3/12/12

Pet peeve #307 Soggy bottom brownies.
You know those brownies with that nice crisp layer on top, then a disappointing soggy bottom? Oh I hate those. I need to have a crispy top, crispy bottom, with a semi-gooey/fudgy center in my brownies. Is that why the end pieces of brownies are so popular? Because they have both crispy top and bottom AND sides? Probably.
Well, if you're like me, I have solved this problem. Use an almost or completely flouress cookie dough--this should yield a nice crisp bottom. Makes all the difference in the world.

This Baked brownie mix is hands down one of my favorites. It's like a high-quality chocolate bar. Well, in essence it is since it has chocolate from Guittard and Callebaut in there. If you're going to have a brownie have one that has high quality cocoa in there--better taste wise and mood wise (higher quality chocolate really does improve your mood).
Have you tried this brownie mix from Baked yet? You really should. To be honest, I was kind of blown away at how rich, dense, and fuggy it tasted since it comes from a box. I truly thought it would be just another boxed brownie mix; one naturally assume when it comes from a mix it's going to be OK.
I was so dead wrong. This mix literally tastes like those fancy brownies that take a while to make--you know the ones you see on food network or PBS that have a 1000 steps?
Very easy to make. All you have to do is add butter and eggs.

I've always wanted to create a cookie/brownie mix. And for me, peanut butter and brownie go so well together, why not put them together. Sure you've seen this combo before, but this one really tastes good as we used a lower flour peanut butter cookie--just like my "almost flourless" pb cookies.

For the pb cookie base:
In a small bowl add the flour, baking soda and salt; and mix, set aside.
In a mixer or by hand, combine peanut butter and sugar until well combined.
Crack open eggs in a small bowl and beat.
Add egg to the cookie mixture, then add in the flour mixture, by sprinkling it over the cookie dough, not just depositing it in one large dump. Mix till combined.

Grease up a 9 X 13 inch pan; using either Pam nonstick spray or butter and flour method. Press the peanut butter dough mixture into pan, making sure to get all the corners as well. Place in fridge and chill, until ready to use.

for the Baked brownie mix:
Follow mixing instructions as stated on the back of the box.

When the brownie batter mix is mixed and you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Take out the peanut butter pan from fridge, and pour the brownie mixture on top. Smooth out batter, evenly, over the top, making sure to get the corners. Gently tap the pan to remove any air. Bake in oven for about 55-65 minutes; making sure to rotate pan a few times during baking. If you don’t want fudgy brownies, you can bake a couple minutes longer.
The brownies will be fudgy, dense, thick and a bit gooey; this is good. Look for a nice crisp/crusty top on the brownies. Inserting a cake tester in middle, will yield a few small crumbs, not complete dough.
You need to cool brownies in pan for at least 45 minutes, then transfer to fridge to help set up the brownies. I left the pan in the fridge for about an hour.
Using a sharp knife, loosen edges and slide out mixture onto wooden board. Cut into squares. Should yield about 24+ squares, depending on how you cut them.

26 comments:

two of my fave things in one...not only cookies, but PB cookies AND not only brownies, FUDGY brownies.

Great review of that boxed mix. My brownie making method from scratch is down to a 3 min heat in micro, stir in, pour in pan, science...but I am always game to try things like that one that you so highly endorse!

You know, I've never really thought about the bottom part of the brownie. I am more concerned with dry/cakey vs. thick and fudgy. However, I love the textures you've got going on here. Now that I will be closer, will you send me some?? haha

well, i'm with you on not liking soggy bottom brownies. i'm not a fan of soggy bottom anything, actually. and, what pretty packaging they have. they've taken brownie mix to another level. they look ridiculously rico!

And now I am CRYYYYING (ok, not really) missing America. Because of the peanut butter withdrawal. Every time my family sends Reese's PB cups they melt in the mail. : ( But they are, like, eight euros for a tiny package here.

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Unique eats, creative recipes, as simple as possible.What drives me to create? Seeing dishes in restaurants, meals created on TV, recipes in cookbooks/online, and I always think to myself why didn’t they add this or why did they leave out that? Love to question, love to research, and love to learn about combining different flavors and textures in recipes.Recipe creations please email: vanillasugarblog@aol.com